PRACTICE SOUND: JALEN SUGGS AND TRISTAN DA SILVA PRESENTED BY SAS 11.03.25

Jaylen, you you’re one of the best at applying ball pressure up the court. Just how important is that in today’s NBA? Um, I think it’s very important um defense is important now. The offense is getting so good in this league uh that you got to continually be more detailed, be more focused uh because the offense is just easy um in terms of there’s so much skill on the court, there’s so much space on the court um and it’s so hard to defend without fouling in this league with how physical and good guys are. So, um, I think intentionality with pressure, uh, smart heat, uh, picking your spots, just trying to disrupt the offense, um, so they’re not just playing in free flow, uh, is really important. Uh, something that I think we’re all doing, all trying to be, uh, conscious of, and, uh, yeah, obviously something that, you know, I’ve always kind of looked at and paid attention to throughout the game. It’s been a couple more games on the court with you guys, that starting five unit. How would you describe the chemistry and what you guys are trying to do and how you have done it so far? I think it’s coming along pretty well. uh it’s early like it’s so easy to look at these at these things and call them big glaring problems. Um you know and then you forget that you know there’s 70 plus games left. Um you know you go on a win streak and you know how heavy you know the the three losses feel. Um you know they almost forgotten you know as you’re winning five six seven in a row. So um really just trying to stay even killed. Um and I think we’re doing a really good job of that. Uh we’re coming in every day in practice and using that time intentionally to have conversation, to have discourse um about what we’re seeing, what we’re feeling, what we want to do. Um and I think that is starting to show. Um you know, I think we’re playing with a bit better rhythm, bit better pace. Um you know, there’s moments, there’s lows, but that’s basketball. Uh it’s a game of runs and flow, and I think we’re finding our way in that flow pretty well. Al looks like he’s taken another step with his playmaking. What have you seen out there about that? Uh he’s been great, man. Um, none of us expect him to be perfect, nor do we expect anybody in this building to be perfect. Uh, but the continued improvement, um, and attention to detail is something that we do harp on and that we do want to pay attention to, and he’s done that. Um, obviously there’s t couple tough games. We’ve all had them. Couple tough, you know, decisions. Um, which in the spur of the moment, you know, happens. Like I said, none of us are perfect. Um, but I think he’s bounced back from it really well. uh not only right after the fact, but coming in the next day and continuing to use his voice, continue to be the same human being that that Apollo is each and every day is crucial to us. And uh I’ve loved how he’s approached it. I love how he’s approached the year so far. And yeah, yeah, I don’t worry about Pete. He’ll be fine. Similarly, what have you seen from Taius early on, you know, coming off the bench when when you are playing starting and whatnot? Uh he’s been great. Um he’s used his voice every day. Uh he’s been a great vet. Uh continue to teach us. uh continue to keep us locked in and engaged not only on the court but off the court in the weight room uh in film. Uh teaching us how to use our voice and communicate, you know, in a productive way. Um teaching us what to look for and things like that. That’s always who Stones has been. Um so, you know, not only to have a great player, great leader, um who’s finding his way in the rhythm also. Like all this to be said, the year is such the year is so early and and you’re going to continue to find your rhythm, continue to get comfortable in the offense and and find his shot, find his buckets. But he’s been great so far. great human to have in here. I know it’s been a little over a week since you last played the Hawks, but what were the takeaways from that game and what are the keys for tomorrow? Uh, we got to have a big sense of urgency. Um, obviously T TV game bit more easy uh, you know, to kind of get up for that a team that just beat us last week at home. You know, one that we really wanted. So, you know, there a lot of free motivation coming into tomorrow night, which I think that we’ll use correctly. I think we’ll harness that energy in the right way. But really just coming out, man, playing defense, um playing the full 48, uh not getting stagnant, you know, or lethargic, you know, just staying intentional about what we’re doing and committed to our process. I think in doing that, uh you know, the game will flow out, you know, exactly how we want it. Um you know, I thought that we took a couple lapses in that one at home and um you know, we saw how that turned out. So, um credit to them for that. you know, we’re coming in uh understanding the team that we’re playing, the guys we’re going to be on the court uh in the situation that we’re in. Uh, you know, with the ability to close out a road trip, you know, after we took some tough ones in the beginning, uh, to close it out, you know, on three shins, going back home, uh, you know, it’ll be huge, you know, just for momentum, feel, vibes, all that. So, uh, really just being intentional, having a sense of urgency tomorrow night and having fun, man, on TV. I know the Hawks game was a little over a week ago, but what were the takeaways from that game and what are you trying to really focus on on tomorrow? Uh, I mean, it’s going to be a little bit of a different game plan. uh cuz cuz Trey is out. Um you know, but they’re they’re very dangerous uh in in a sense that you know, it’s going to be a team effort uh for them and you know, they they have a lot of a lot of talented guys, a lot of veteran guys that that are going to pick up the slack for that and um yeah, we we’ll go over to scout uh later today or tomorrow. Um but it’s going to be a little bit different of a game plan here. Paulo seems like he’s made more strides with his playm. Uh what have you seen out there with him with that? Uh yeah, I mean he uh seems like it’s he’s a little bit more uh figure out his groove uh figuring out his groove and uh getting a rhythm and um you know obviously making shots and making the right plays out there. So um yeah, when you guys are on a fast break, what determines whether taking a three-pointer in those situations is a good shot for you guys? Obviously, you want to get to the basket as much as possible, but are there times where taking the three in transition is actually the better shot? Um yeah, I mean depends on momentum obviously um little bit game situation and then um who’s open and you know what uh what the right shot is. I mean in the sense of who’s uh who we got on the floor and who’s who’s sprinting to the line, who’s running to the rim. Um but we we welcome every open shot. And finally, how do you feel and how would you assess your performances so far? I feel pretty good. um you know, still still early in the season. So still still early in the season. So uh hoping to keep that going and um so far I’ve been feeling uh pretty well feeling feeling comfortable being out there uh defensively and offensively. So, um, just continuing to to make strides and and and trusting myself out

Subscribe to the Orlando Magic YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NBAOrlandoMagic
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orlandomagic/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orlandomagic?lang=e
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoMagic/

Subscribe to STUFF’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/STUFFtheMagicMascot

#OrlandoMagic #NBA #ORLMagic

6 comments
Leave a Reply